Top 10 French Races

La Transbaie

Posted: 8 July 2000

La Transbaie

Month June
Location Baie de la Somme, near Abbeville (northern French coast, Picardie, north of Dieppe)
Distance About 13 or 14K
Why do it The north of France may seem a long way to go for an hour or so of running, but youve almost certainly never run a race like this one. It traverses one of the most beautiful bays at low tide, over sand of varying texture, with occasional waves lapping over your laces. The 13 or 14K as the seagull flies will seem more like a half-marathon effort. Some wading up to your knees through muddy inlets is also not out of the question, with a brisk sea breeze howling down the beach. This classic finishes with a 5km loop in the town of St Valéry sur Somme, to the applause and encouragement of several thousand spectators.
Field 5500
Fee €15
Contact Sport et Tourisme en Baie de Somme, 80230 Saint Valery sur Somme, France; e-mail contact@transbaie.com; web www.transbaie.com Other information Races starts at 2pm. Showers are, thankfully, provided.
Getting there By road  if you take the ferry to Dieppe, its the D925 north, then the D940 to the bay town of St Valéry sur Somme. Alternatively, you can take the ferry to Calais or Boulogne and go south along the D940. By rail  the nearest station (5km away) is at Noyelles sur Mer from Calais. By air  fly to Paris, and then drive or take the train.
Where to stay Contact the Office du Tourisme; tel 00 33 322 60 93 50.

Discuss this article

You have to submit a medical certificate with your application.Can you get one from a UK doctor?If so what does it say?My nephew was refused and we have been told to get one from a French doctor.Help! Anyone done this?
Posted: 04/03/2006 at 11:42

I'm surprised that you have to send one with your application. I've raced in France and just had to show my medical cert when I collected my number. Actually I wrote my own certificate, but don't tell anyone ;-)
Posted: 04/03/2006 at 18:58

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